flash issues with r-d1... HELP?

[hamish_gill]

my sync socket works fine, but the hot shoe pin doesn't. can anyone tell me if im being stupid? if im not being stupid can someone tell me how to fix it i dont mind taking the thing apart if this is what is needed! im startinfg to feel quite confident with my screwdriver!!!
thankyou, any small insights in to this problem will be greatly apreciated

 

[LCT]

What strobe do you use?

 

[hamish_gill]

nikon sb-600 and a sunpack rd2000 both work sat on a liitle shoe with a sync cable going to the sync socket.
i can sit this shoe on top of the camera but as it has no pins so it is really loose and falls off if i tilt the camera up, usually hitting me on the head!

 

[sleepyhead]

It's hard to say without seeing the hotshoe off the camera - doesn't sound like your being stupid, but make sure that the hotshoe screws are tight - perhaps someone removed the shoe to adust the rangefinder and messed up the contacts?

With my R-D1s, I use a vivitar 283 with Wein safesynch off camera with a PC cord, and sometimes a Metz 32-Z2 flash on the hotshoe. Both work fine.

I did notice something curious recently regarding using a flash on the R-D1s. On my camera, the flash will not fire while the camera is writing a file to the memory card, in other words if I take a series of pictures a few seconds apart with the Metz flash attached, the flash will fire for the first shot, and even though the flash is ready to fire again almost immediately, the next picture will be without flash, etc. - only once the camera is done WRITING the file will the flash fire again. Kinda a bummer.

 

[hamish_gill]

i have also noticed that, it can be a little frustrating, but its just one of those little r-d1 foibles! thanks for the reasurance that im not just being stupid
i shall try tightening the screws now i think

any more sujestions?
is this is known issue with r-d1s?

 

[hamish_gill]

sleepyhead, you are a genius, it works perfect now! i took the clamp out and straight away i could see the screws had been taken out at some point as they looked a little unscrewed and the heads were worn. tightened them put my flash on and it worked!!! thank you very much!!!!!!

 

[Al Kaplan]

Sleepyhead, thanks for the information about not firing while writing a file. I often take two or three fast shots, and I just lost all my desire to pick up an RD-1 if I were to run across one cheap.

 

[LCT]

...I did notice something curious recently regarding using a flash on the R-D1s. On my camera, the flash will not fire while the camera is writing a file to the memory card...

Depends on the flash i guess. My late Canon 430ex2 does that for instance but not my good old Nikon SB-20.

 

[hamish_gill]

hmm... i seem to be having that not fireing flash with both my flashguns at least some of the time. i have been looking for an sb-20 for a while is it that good for use on the r-d1? i might up my game in looking for one if it is...

 

[LCT]

Nikon SB-20:
Built-in diffuser for 28, 35-70, and 85mm lenses.
Bounce capability at 45, 60, 75, 90 and -7 degree.
Inexpensive, good little flash with the R-D1.
See http://www.dantestella.com/technical/sb20.html